review – Page 2 – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Black Door – Shadows of a Funerary Gleam

Metalcatto

I don’t meet too many Black Metal bands with a name like Black Door, because that sounds more like a grandpa Rock band than evil Norwegian shrieking. But Shadows of a Funerary Gleam goes more like bathing in a ton of goat blood. That’s more like it, right? So, can these guys impress us in any way? I’ve never heard of them, so it’s not going to be easy. And lately, I don’t feel like giving high scores unless the band really earns it. Yes, I’ve turned cynical. It’s part of the business. Deal with it.

Kamelot – Dark Asylum

Metalcatto

I’ve known of Kamelot since The Black Halo. The band is one of the few Power Metal acts that has a 5/5 in my book. A career full of twists and turns, but overall filled with consistency and—I can’t believe I’m saying this—quality. If there’s a cheesy band I trust can pull off a good performance, it’s this one. So, Dark Asylum has got some level of expectations, I guess. Yes, it’s geeky music, so I’m apprehensive again.

Wyrdstæf – Primordial Bloodlines

Metalcatto

In my short career as a reviewer, I’ve heard all sorts of weird, excessive, and even funny names for subgenres. However, “Paleolithic Black Metal” is a new one for me. Wyrdstæf is trying to travel in time to return to the times before agriculture. Primordial Bloodlines takes itself rather seriously, and though I’m not a historian, I’m skeptical of all these gimmicks that try to portray old times in some romanticized way. So, bear with me, I’m going to be a total snob here, or not. I slept bad!

Unholy Redeemer – Journey Beyond Death

Metalcatto

As some of you know, I’m taking care of my second newborn, which means I can only listen to so many albums before it becomes irresponsible. Unholy Redeemer comes from Dark Descent, so you know what Journey Beyond Death is going to be like: old school and short. That last part is exactly what I need right now. Everything expresses quality and consistency, but will that be the case in practice? Let’s see.

Invocation Ritual – Altered Reality

Metalcatto

We should return to what you always want: the most inhumane music ever, so you can brag to other Metalheads in the most toxic way possible. Invocation Ritual is just that—the kind of band that destroys your hearing in no time. Altered Reality is supposed to transport us to a horrible planet where our faces will get melted down, or so we hope.

Temic – Ceiba

Metalcatto

It’s been almost a fact that traditional Prog—you know, without ultra-brutal vocals or infinite blastbeats—is kind of dead. The world has just turned into a more cynical and godless place. However, there are still acts that have ignored the calling of oblivion. Temic seems to be one of those. Ceiba is supposed to remind us why it’s still possible to be corny and complex at the same time. Let’s see.

Stoned Jesus – Songs to Moon

Metalcatto

It always makes me happy when a band is back. As in, MER lived long enough to review it again. So I’m happy to live to see another Stoned Jesus album—not because I’m a diehard fan, but because the name amuses me every time I see it. My real question for Songs to Moon is: would it bring change, or is it going to be consistent? And if it’s the second one, would it be any fun?

Essential Black Metal 1#

Metalcatto

Since you people seemed to somehow care about my Death Metal opinion, I thought why not try with the edgiest niche. However, I’m going to avoid the most obvious albums here. So no Mayhem, Burzum, or Darkthrone. Don’t panic—I’ll still drop a Norwegian classic or two. Let’s go.

Hulder – Verbolgen

Metalcatto

It’s not long since we reviewed Verses in Oath—an album that could easily top the 10 of that year. Hence, the chances of Verbolgen being Hulder‘s next perfect album are next to none. That doesn’t mean we’re just going to give up, even if that means reviewing this thing a few days later. You don’t care—you want someone to either fight with or to validate your lonely feelings. Let’s go.

Váthos – Solace

Vicky

I’ve known, talked to, worked with, befriended, and been a fan of Váthos for quite some time now, so when I listened to SOLACE for the first time, my first instinct was to think “oh, wow, can’t believe I know these people”, of course, in a good way.